A Relational Research on Mental Toughness and Track Performance

Öz

Aim: The research was carried out to reveal the relationship between the mental toughness levels and track performance of the athletes-students participated in the Faculty of Sports Sciences Special Talent Test (STT), and to examine the mental toughness according to the variables of gender, age, sports year and the department applied for. Material and Method: The research was designed in a descriptive (survey) and relational (correlational, causal comparison) research model. The study group of the research consisted of 494 athletes-students (nFemale=107; nMale=387) between the ages of 18-25, who participated in Kırşehir Ahi Evran University (KAUE) Faculty of Sport Sciences STT in the 2021-2022 academic year, determined according to the random sampling method. In the research, Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ), personal information form and STT scores were used as data collection tools. Correlation analysis, independent samples t-test and one-way Anova were used in the analysis of the data obtained. Results: According to the results, a negative significant relationship was found between the participants' STT track scores and Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) confidence sub-dimension. In addition, it was observed that male athlete-students had significantly higher SMTQ total and sub-dimension average scores compared to female athletes-students. There was no significant relationship between the participants' total and sub-dimension mean scores of SMTQ and their ages. On the other hand, positive and significant correlations were found between the sports age of the athletes-students and the sub-dimensions of SMTQ total, confidence and constancy, but no significant relationship was found in the control sub-dimension. According to the department variable, a significant difference was found between the SMTQ total and constancy sub-dimension scores of the athletes-students who applied to the Department of Coaching Education and the Department of Sports Management, in favor of those who applied to the Department of Coaching Education, but no significant difference was found in the sub-dimensions of confidence and control. Conclusion: While their mental toughness (confidence) levels increase, their track performance improves. Besides, while mental toughness is not related to age, is related to sports age. In addition, the mental toughness levels of male participants are higher than female participants. Furthermore, the mental toughness levels of the athletes-students applied to the Department of Coaching Education are higher than those applied to the Department of Management. The results of the research are limited to the 2021-2022 academic year KAUE Faculty of Sport Sciences STT and the results can be generalized within this framework.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Athlete-student
• mental toughness
• special talent test
• track performance

Zihinsel Dayanıklılık ile Parkur Performansı Üzerine İlişkisel Bir Araştırma

Öz

Amaç: Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi Özel Yetenek Sınavına (ÖYS) katılan sporcu-öğrencilerin zihinsel dayanıklılık düzeyleri ile parkur performansları arasındaki ilişkiyi ortaya koymak ve zihinsel dayanıklılığı cinsiyet, yaş, spor yılı ve başvurulan bölüm değişkenlerine göre incelemek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Materyal ve Metot: Araştırma betimsel (tarama) ve ilişkisel (korelasyonel, nedensel karşılaştırma) deseniyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2021-2022 eğitim-öğretim yılında Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi (KAEÜ) Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi ÖYS ye katılan, tesadüfi örnekleme yöntemine göre belirlenmiş 18-25 yaş aralığında 494 sporcu-öğrenci (nKadın=107; nErkek=387) oluşturmuştur. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak Sporda Zihinsel Dayanıklılık Envanteri (SZDE), kişisel bilgi formu ve ÖYS koordinasyon parkuru skorları kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen verilerin analizinde korelasyon analizi, bağımsız örneklemlerde t-testi ve tek yönlü varyans analizinden yararlanılmıştır. Bulgular: Analiz sonuçlarına göre katılımcıların ÖYS parkur skorlarıyla Sporda Zihinsel Dayanıklılık Envanteri (SZDE) güven alt boyutu arasında negatif yönlü anlamlı ilişki bulunmuş, SZDE total ve diğer alt boyutlar arasında anlamlı ilişki saptanmamıştır. Bunun yanında erkek sporcu-öğrencilerin kadın sporcu-öğrencilere nazaran SZDE total ve alt boyut ortalama puanlarının anlamlı düzeyde yüksek olduğu görülmüştür. Katılımcıların SZDE total ve alt boyut ortalama puanları ile yaşları arasında anlamlı ilişki saptanmamıştır. Bununla birlikte sporcu-öğrencilerin spor yaşıyla SZDE total, güven ve devamlılık alt boyutları arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı ilişkiler bulunmuş, kontrol alt boyutunda anlamlı ilişki saptanmamıştır. Bölüm değişkenine göre, Antrenörlük Eğitimi Bölümü ve Spor Yöneticiliği Bölümüne başvuran sporcu-öğrencilerin SZDE total ve devamlılık alt boyutu skorları arasında Antrenörlük Eğitimi Bölümüne başvuranların lehine anlamlı fark saptanmış, güven ve kontrol alt boyutlarında anlamlı fark saptanmamıştır. Sonuç: Zihinsel dayanıklılık (güven) düzeyleri artarken parkur performansları iyileşmektedir. Bunun yanında, zihinsel dayanıklılık yaş ile ilişkili değilken spor yaşıyla ilişkilidir. Ayrıca, erkek katılımcıların zihinsel dayanıklılık düzeyleri kadınlardan yüksektir. Bunlara ilaveten Antrenörlük Eğitimi Bölümüne başvuran sporcu-öğrencilerin zihinsel dayanıklılık düzeyleri Yöneticilik Bölümüne başvuranlardan yüksektir. Araştırma sonuçları 2021-2022 eğitim-öğretim yılı KAEÜ Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi ÖYS ile sınırlıdır ve elde edilen sonuçlar bu çerçevede genellenebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Özel yetenek sınavı
• parkur performansı
• sporcu-öğrenci
• zihinsel dayanıklılık

Kaynakça

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